Scarlet Sands, on synthetic for first time, takes Miss Gracie in stakes debut

Scarlet Sands, a 3-year-old filly trained by Carlos David, made a flawless transition to synthetic and won the $75,000 Miss Gracie Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Coming off two victories on turf, the filly was also making her stakes debut and won in front-running fashion.

When David looked at the Miss Gracie earlier this week, he noticed that the field of 3-year-old fillies lacked a natural early leader. Scarlet Sands had won her last two starts with stalking trips, but the trainer gave jockey Edwin Gonzalez different instructions this time.

“I don’t see a lot of speed,” David told his jockey. “I want to break good. If she wants to go to the lead, just let her be. Don’t try to take it away from her, don’t try to rate her. Just let her do her thing. I think she’s got enough class to outclass the field.”

Sure enough, the 1-2 favorite broke sharply and went right to the front entering the first turn, taking a 1 1/2-length lead over four rivals through an opening quarter-mile in 23.87. Cruising along on the backstretch through a half-mile in 46.51, she maintained firm control as the rest of the field spread out behind her.

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Several of the stalking fillies made bids turning for home, but they were deterred a little longer when Scarlet Sands unleashed the last of her reserves to take a two-length lead entering the stretch. It was enough, as Crafty Collector, a last-out maiden winner trained by Gerald Bennett, closed fast in the final strides but came up a neck short.

Scarlet Sands paid $3 to win and completed the one mile, 70 yards in 1:40.49. Crafty Collector, the runner-up at 12-1 odds, finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Special Aviator, who could not make the most of prior synthetic experience for trainer Rohan Crichton.

David claimed Scarlet Sands from trainer Chad Brown for $75,000 in February and, after toiling away in maiden competition for several months, she is suddenly running out of conditions on the turf in Florida. The trainer is trying to figure out if she belongs in fields at Saratoga and Monmouth, but in the meantime, he said that it’s comforting to know that she can handle the Tapeta if necessary.

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